In a span of less than five years, Richmond's Mike Rossiter's world changed forever.
In 1995, Rossiter was diagnosed with an extremely rare and aggressive form of non-Hodgkin's cancer, mantle cell lymphoma; his 21-year-old son, Blake, was severely injured in a car accident; and, his marriage was falling apart.
"I was fighting a year-long struggle with my cancer at the same time my son was injured," said the 67-year-old artist. "Blake was a passenger in a car that was T-boned by a truck."
He paused for a moment before adding: "I used to work from 4 a.m. to 6 p.m. in my printing company when everything happened. A year later, I sold my company, and, in 1996, I changed my whole perspective on life. Family and friends became more important than anything else."
Nevertheless, his marriage ended two years later.
Rossiter calls himself a "survivor."
"After seven or eight years of remission, it made me want to smell the roses," said Rossiter. "Everything that happened influenced me to start doing things that I enjoy."
He moved to Richmond in 1996 and after much prodding by his second wife, Rossiter decided to try his hand at painting.
"Painting makes me feel like I'm accomplishing something," he added. "Work is certainly not as rewarding as painting.
"I find that when I paint it's almost like smoking marijuana . it's that relaxing."
His favourite place to paint is by the Fraser River at Garry Point Park, when the sun is just coming up.
"I go down to the river at 6 a.m. when there's no one but me and my thermos full of coffee," said Rossiter. "It's so quiet and peaceful, it's a pretty special time of day."
Rossiter is once again taking part in Steveston's Grand Prix of Art.
"Although I had never been in a race like this before, I sketched quickly," he said. "I didn't feel intimidated by the event or from the public watching, I was only nervous because I only had three hours to produce a good piece of art."
Last year, Rossiter painted the heritage building on Moncton Street, which now houses Pieces. "It used to be an old drugstore and that's what I painted."
Rossiter ended up selling his inaugural Grand Prix of Art painting.
In fact, since he began painting in his late forties, Rossiter has sold a number of pieces in the last few years.
The semi-retired graphic designer prefers to paint marine and landscape scenes.
"I'm inspired by my travels and nature," he said. "I'm also hooked on painting boats in the waters."
However, Rossiter is always one to push the boundarie for himself, he said, so he's signed on to take life drawing classes this fall.
"I want to be more comfortable drawing people in my paintings," he added.
Mark Glavina, who founded the Steveston Grand Prix of Art, calls Rossiter "an all-around amazing man."
"Mike started with classes at Phoenix Art and was one of the inspirations for me opening the studio 10 years ago," added Glavina. "Mike has traveled to Cuba, Guatemala, and China with our international painting trips and he is quite accomplished.
"Mike is also my graphics volunteer for the Grand Prix of Art."
Rossiter piped in that he has also traveled across Europe - to Florence, Rome, Spain and Portugal - for four months with paintbrush and supplies in tow, and created a series of pieces.
In fact it was travelling that prompted him to begin painting.
"I was always on my computer and I started thinking that I could record some of my travels in art form."
That's how he ended up taking art classes at The Phoenix Art Workshop where he met Glavina.
"Painting gives me a good feeling," he said, adding he belongs to the Richmond Artists Guild.
"I really like to create something with my hands."
His medium of choice is watercolour.
"It's easier to move around the paintbrush," said Rossiter. "I do paint in acrylics and oils but I still prefer watercolour best."
Rossiter said he's getting geared up for this Saturday's Steveston Grand Prix of Art.
"I'm really looking forward to it and I really encourage the public to come out, ask questions and talk to the painters," he added.
"The art event is a great thing . once it's over it's like winning a game and there's a great deal of satisfaction."
